Several injured in Boylston Street MBTA Station trolley crash

Trolleys involved in 'slow-speed' crash inside Boston station

Dozens of people were injured two trolleys bumped into each other Thursday at a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority station in Boston.

Two Green Line trolleys collided at the Boylston Street Station at 11:50 a.m.

"People went flying, got their knees banked up. It was pretty hectic," one rider said.

EMTs set up a triage area outside the station, and 37 people were taken to local hospitals.

"One trolley bumped into the rear of another trolley that was making a regular stop at the station," MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said. "It was moving at a very low rate of speed when it happened."

Chief of Boston EMS James Hooley said there are no serious injuries.

"Several of them complained of neck and back pain that required them to be carried up and extracted. But the majority of them -- 28 or so -- were walking, wounded," Hooley said.

At the time of the crash, there were about 200 people on the trolleys. The operator of the second trolley was among the injured, Pesaturo said.

MBTA officials said it was a "slow-speed crash" and no trolleys were damaged.

"The train was going, and all of a sudden we heard a loud crash," one witness said. "All of us just piled on top of each other."

"Doctor just looked at me and my knee feels much better after the last 20 minutes. Based on how he said I can move it, Ibuprofen and ice should do the trick, so I 'm just going to head on home," rider Greg Sorenson said.

The investigation into the crash is under way. The MBTA has ruled out any problems with the track or signal system.

The driver of the second trolley has been with the MBTA for six years. He hasn't been involved in any other crashes since he's been working for the MBTA and has never been disciplined, officials said.

Sources said the crash was captured on video, which shows that the trolley didn't slow down as it came around the corner. Witnesses said the crash pushed the sitting trolley about 12 feet.

Customers were urged to used Haymarket, Downtown Crossing, Back Bay or North Station to make downtown connections.